Caribbean History

Topic : The indigenous people and the Europeans

Sub-Topic: The impact of the Europeans on the Taino

Date:

Learning Objective: Knowledge

1. Discuss what is the Columbian Exchange

2. Outline the impact the Columbian Exchange had on the new world
3. Describe 4 effects of Columbus Voyages on the Tainos under the heading: Demographic
Changes, Colonization , Encomienda

THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

The Impact of Europeans on the Indigenous People

When the Spanish rediscovered the Americas in 1492, little did the people know it spelled

destruction for the indigenous way of life? Europeans brought with them a different culture,

technologically superior weapons and machinery, new agricultural products such as wheat,

barley, oats, and animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs and goats. They also brought germs such

as smallpox which decimated populations and of course Christianity, which superseded

indigenous beliefs.

Demographic Changes

In 1492, it was estimated that the indigenous population numbered around 40 –60 million, within

30 –40 years, however, nearly 95% were dead. At the same time thousands of foreigners from

Europe were pouring into the Americas, as migration changed the demographic landscape.

Europeans were immune to the many diseases that evolved in Europe; the isolated indigenous

population, however, were not. Diseases like smallpox, typhus, influenza, and measles once

contracted spread rapidly among the indigenous people who had never encountered these
diseases and did not have a cure for them. The decline of the indigenous people was exacerbated

by European mistreatment including overwork, enslavement under the encomienda system, war,

and displacement of people from their homes.

Settlements were destroyed and forests cleared. The destruction led to forced migration, food

and labour shortage and genocide. With reduced populations cities were abandoned and forests

too over; animals no longer hunted increased in numbers.

Encomienda

A grant by the crown to a conquistador or official enabling him to demand tribute from the

Indians in gold, in kind or in labour. In turn, he was required to protect them and

instruct them in the Christian faith.

Genocide:

The killing of a whole people, which the Spanish committed against the Taino.

Colonization

The Empires of Spain, Britain and France all pursued power through conquest. They used

superior technology and weapons to impose their will on conquered people and European

civilization and the Christian religion to expand the empire and obtain resources. The colonial

systems were foreign to the indigenous people.

In addition to the to the encomienda system, repartimiento demanded that all indigenous people

over 18 years provide a week’s service for pay. In return they Christianized the indigenous

people, a further means of exercising control. In their colonial drive the Europeans used tricks,

alliances, and force to dominate the Americas. The indigenous people met them with diplomacy

and Stone Age tools.

Cultural Impositions
Many families and communities were forced off their land and found it difficult to adapt to the

new foreign systems. Extended family life patterns were disrupted. Europeans replaced their

towns and cities with Spanish towns, forts, administrative buildings, churches, haciendas, and

plazas. The indigenous people believed in the spirits of nature. They were now forced to convert

to the Roman Catholic faith. In many cases they were made to follow European traditions

instead of their own. Indigenous people were seen as inferior ‘pagans. They were forced to wear

European clothing, eat European food, and learn European languages. They were now governed

by a distinct, invisible, and demanding monarch. The guidance they had formerly sought from

their traditional ruler was no longer available. This cultural imposition led in time to a new

mixed race, the mestizo, and of language –the development of Creole.

Economic Destabilization

The indigenous people had worked their land as a community but with the arrival of the

Europeans staple crops like maize and manioc were neglected. Indigenous people were forced

off their land to areas which were not economically viable and the food they produced was

consumed by Europeans. Hunting grounds were destroyed, and fish stocks depleted. European

animals like cattle, horses, sheep, and goats were allowed to graze on indigenous crops or

trample them. The indigenous people could not supply the labour needed for the new intense

plantation, which led to the introduction of enslaved Africans.

Caribbean History(Graded Work)

October 2022
Name of Student:

Instruction Answer all questions and upload all responses to

your Google Classroom. If you need space to write your answer,
a second blank sheet is below. Write according to the number of
marks the question is a valve, especially questions 2 and 3. You
don’t need to write 2 or 3 paragraphs. That is for questions
worth 12 marks and upward. Put the date in the space when you
complete this assignment.

1. Outline 3 ways that cultural imposition can be viewed as an

impact upon the Taino (6mks)

2. Give 3(three) ways in which Genocide is considered an

impact of Columbus’s voyages on the Taino (4mks)

3. Describe two ways that the indigenous people( the Tainos)

experience economic destabilization at the hands of the
Spaniards (2mks)
4. Provide evidence to show that colonization was indeed an
impact of Columbus‘s voyages on the Tainos (8mks)